Duct Excision

Introduction

Nipple discharge is a common complaint for women, with the possibility of intraductal cancer the greatest concern. However, benign disease is more often the cause of nipple discharge. It is therefore important to identify patients who might be at risk for malignancy and would be candidates for surgical resection. Nipple discharge can be defined as physiologic versus pathologic. Pathologic nipple discharge (PND) usually requires surgery to rule out malignancy. PND is typically unilateral, spontaneous, bloody or serous, and from a single duct. Green, creamy, bilateral, nonspontaneous drainage or drainage from multiple ducts usually indicates a nonmalignant process that does not require surgery.